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Undergraduate Financial AidInformation and Application Instructions

Princeton

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P rinceton University has one of the best need-based financial aid programs in the country, reflecting our core value of

equality of opportunity and our desire to attract the most talented students. We encourage all qualified students—regardless of financial circumstances—to consider applying for admission to Princeton. If admitted, applicants can be confident that their full financial need will be met.

The Princeton Financial Aid Application on the Web

Because of the amount of information that must be provided to fairly determine eligibility, applying for financial aid can be difficult. To simplify the process for you and your family, Princeton has developed its own financial aid application on the Web. The Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) offers a number of advantages such as online accessibility, a customized form, and fast electronic communication. Furthermore, there is no fee charged for processing the PFAA. We hope the PFAA makes applying for aid at Princeton as easy as possible.

How It WorksApplicants to the Class of 2015

can register for a log-in account on Princeton’s website (www.princeton.edu, under “Admission & Aid”). Once you are registered on the secure server you will be able to apply for financial aid.

forms and Deadlines

Princeton does not require the CSS PROFILE form and will not accept it unless combined with the PFAA. In addition, tax forms and other supplemental information must be submitted directly to Princeton, not to the CSS IDOC service.

January 15 Princeton Financial Aid Application on the Web*(but no later (or paper alternative)than February 1)

February 1 Princeton Non-custodial Parent’s Form* (if applicable)

April 15 FAFSA**

Note: The filing deadlines indicated above enable the Financial Aid Office to provide an aid decision at the time admission notifications are mailed.* Available beginning November 30, 2010.** Available after January 1, 2011.

How to Apply for Financial Aid at Princeton

When you log in to the PFAA, you will be offered the opportunity to use data you submitted on the College Scholarship Service PROFILE form (if you filed one) as part of your Princeton application. Note that we do not require the PROFILE and will not accept it alone as a complete financial aid application. However, you may find it convenient to include Princeton on the list of recipients if you are completing a PROFILE for another college and wish to incorporate your data in the appropriate sections of the Princeton application.

The PFAA accommodates all applicants, including Canadian and other international students. On average, you and your parents will complete six short pages of information. You will be able to save your data and return to the application as many times as you wish before submitting your PFAA to this office. After you submit your PFAA, you can continue to view it on the Web, but any new information must be sent by letter, fax, or e-mail. We will provide confirmation after we receive your application.

Separated or Divorced ParentsIf your parents are separated or

divorced, and the parent you live with has not remarried, you will have one additional requirement to complete your aid application. Both parents are asked to provide their financial

information so we can determine their individual contributions for college. You and your custodial parent should complete the PFAA on the Web and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For the purpose of confidentiality, your non-custodial parent’s information is submitted separately using Princeton’s Non-custodial Parent’s Form, which is available from this office and on our website in printable format. (However, if your custodial parent has remarried, then your stepparent’s information should be included on all forms, and your non-custodial parent is not required to submit an additional application.)

Under exceptional circumstances, the non-custodial parent’s information may be waived at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office. Applicants can receive consideration for a waiver by giving an explanation of their situation in the appropriate section on the PFAA, or by letter, fax, or e-mail.

Federal Student Aid ProgramsThe information you provide on your

PFAA allows Princeton to estimate your eligibility for federal aid programs. We recommend you file the FAFSA by April 15, 2011, to confirm your eligibility. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and receive an award from Princeton, you will be required to complete the FAFSA.

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Income Tax ReturnsPrinceton requires verification of the

income information you enter on your application, which is usually estimated at the time of submission. You will be asked for copies of your parents’ 2010 federal income tax return(s) and W-2 (wage and tax) statements when they are available. We strongly recommend that you provide these documents by March 15, 2011. Faxing to (609) 258-0336 is the preferred method. If you have submitted your PFAA, please note your application number (found in the e-mail acknowledgment) on the fax. Limit the tax return to pages 1 and 2, as well as Schedules A, C, or F, if filed. You may also mail them directly to Box 591, Princeton, NJ 08542. (Do not use CSS IDOC.)

If we receive the tax forms after making an initial offer of aid, your award may be adjusted based on the actual income and tax figures if they differ from the amounts estimated on the PFAA. Your own 2010 tax return may also be required. If you or your parents do not file an income tax return, an alternate source of income verification must be provided.

What to Do If You Cannot File on the Web

While the PFAA on the Web is the preferred method of applying for aid at Princeton, we understand that some families may not have ready access to the Internet. If you need an alternative to filing on the Web, please call the Financial Aid Office at (609) 258-3330 to request a paper application.

If you have Internet access but are looking for a paper version of the application to use as a worksheet, we have provided a printable worksheet as part of the Web PFAA.

DeadlinesThe PFAA will be available on the

Web beginning November 30, 2010. We recommend submitting this form by January 15, 2011, but no later than February 1, 2011. If your parents are divorced or separated, and the parent you live with has not remarried, the Non-custodial Parent’s Form is also due by February 1, 2011. The FAFSA will

be required from students accepting Princeton’s offer of admission and should be completed after your parents complete their income tax return, but no later than April 15, 2011.

Tips for Using the Princeton Financial Aid Application on the Web

The best way to complete your PFAA on the Web is for both you and a parent to work together on the computer. If this isn’t possible, you can save a partially completed form, then return to finish and submit the application once all of the information needed has been gathered.

It is a good idea to prepare in advance by having the following information at hand:• Parents’ estimated 2010 tax information—adjusted gross income, federal income tax, and wage and salary figures• Parents’ estimated 2010 untaxed income—contributions to tax-deferred savings plans, benefits such as Veterans

Affairs, housing allowances, and all other sources• Current value of parents’ assets—savings, investments, total value of 529 college savings and/or prepaid tuition plans, real estate, and business or farm equity; excluding the family home and retirement funds• Student’s taxable and untaxed income for 2010—wages, interest and dividends, and untaxed benefits• Current value of student’s assets—savings, investments, trusts, and Uniform Gift to Minors• Family expenses anticipated for 2010—especially school and college costs, unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, education loan payments, and other out-of-the-ordinary expenses.

The Financial Aid Office staff is available to help with problems you may encounter while using the PFAA on the Web. You can contact us by calling (609) 258-3330, or send e-mail questions to faoffice@princeton.edu.

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Fees and Expenses

Fees and expenses for the academic year 2010–11Tuition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $36,640Room charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,467Board rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,473Estimated miscellaneous expenses (books, supplies, laundry, telephone, recreation, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,600Estimated total . . . . . . . . . . . . $52,180

T uition includes the matriculation fee and the use of the library, student health services, and

laboratories. The room charge and board rate are standard for University dormitories and meal plans. Estimated miscellaneous expenses include the residential college fee, activities fee, the one-time transcript fee, and class dues. These last four items, totaling about $855, are billed centrally by the University for the convenience of the organizations involved. For students who are not covered under their family’s medical insurance, Princeton offers the Student Health Plan at a cost of $1,450.

Because the cost of goods and services continues to rise, charges for 2011–12 are expected to increase modestly.

The University bill is the sum of tuition, room, board, residential college fee, class dues, transcript, and activities fees. The Student Health Plan charge is also included on the bill for those who participate. Financial aid credits are deducted, and the remaining family payment is due on either a semester or monthly basis.

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How Princeton’s Student Aid Program Works

P rinceton’s aid program is based on four fundamental principles:

1. Admission to Princeton is need-blind for all applicants, including international students. Need for financial aid is not in any way a disadvantage in the admission process. Princeton welcomes applications from talented students of diverse economic backgrounds.

2. University aid is awarded solely on the basis of need. There are no merit scholarships.

3. Need is determined through a careful review of each family’s financial circumstances.

4. The full need of every student is met with an award consisting of University grants, scholarships from external sources, and a campus job. No student is required to take a loan to pay Princeton’s costs.

These principles are discussed under the following headings: “Determining Financial Need” and “Assigning Aid.”

Determining Financial NeedIt is worth repeating that Princeton

financial aid is awarded solely on the basis of financial need. No University aid is given based on a student’s talents or achievements.

Need is defined as the difference between the student budget and Princeton’s estimate of what the student and his or her family can afford to pay toward these expenses. The parents’ contribution, the student’s summer earnings, a portion of the student’s own savings, and educational benefits are the family resources that are compared with Princeton’s costs to judge whether or not the applicant needs financial assistance.

The parents’ contributionPrinceton’s unique process of

evaluating parental ability to pay for educational costs is based primarily on the information contained in the Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA). Each individual aid application is given careful consideration using Princeton’s own methodology, including the exercise of professional judgment for special circumstances. In addition, federal student aid eligibility is determined through the Free

Summer Savings Replacement Aid

For students who are unable to meet the summer savings expectation, either because they don’t earn enough or have high job-related expenses, Princeton offers the opportunity to receive replacement aid. This generous aid option allows students greater choice in their summer activities by replacing a savings shortfall with one-half grant and one-half additional job (or loan on request).

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a separate need formula.

The main elements we use in determining the parental contribution are family income, assets other than the family home and retirement funds, state and federal taxes, an allowance for family living expenses, and the costs of other family members in college.

Once the PFAA information is received, an aid counselor reviews the entire application and determines the expected family contribution. Families can get a preliminary idea of how much financial aid they might receive by using the Princeton Estimator at www.princeton.edu/aid.

Separated or divorced parentsAs described in the section “How to

Apply for Financial Aid,” it is Princeton’s policy to request financial information from both parents and to expect each to contribute to educational costs.

If the parent you live with has remarried, that parent and stepparent complete the PFAA and FAFSA. No information is required from the non-custodial parent.

If the parent you live with has not remarried, then that parent completes the PFAA and FAFSA, and the non-custodial parent completes Princeton’s Non-custodial Parent’s Form.

An aid counselor carefully reviews the information from both parents and determines the amount each should be able to contribute toward college costs.

Self-supporting studentsPrinceton expects parents to provide

financial support according to their ability to pay throughout their children’s college years. Should a student’s parents discontinue their support for other than financial reasons, aid funds will not be available to replace the parents’ contribution.

Guidelines for determining if an applicant is self-supporting according to the federal definition are included in the FAFSA. However, for the purpose of awarding its own funds, Princeton requires parental financial information for all students.

The student’s own contributionIn addition to the amount parents

are asked to contribute, students are also expected to help meet a portion of their own educational costs each year. A student’s share comes from summer employment, savings, and educational benefits.

A typical student entering in September 2010 was asked to contribute $1,530 from summer earnings. The summer contribution is less for low-income and international students. It is expected that this amount will increase for students entering in the fall of 2011.

Students are expected to contribute 5 percent of their assets each year to their education. Student assets are defined as money that is in the student’s name at the time he or she applies for aid. This includes funds that have been placed in a trust or given to the student under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act.

Additional sources of student contri-butions are Veterans Affairs and other educational benefits.

Assigning AidOnce we have determined the amount

the applicant and his or her parents should be able to pay toward educational fees, we compare this figure to the yearly cost of attending Princeton. If the family contribution is less than the yearly cost, we assign financial aid. We include two types of aid in our awards: scholarships or grants, and jobs.

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Pell Grant recipients who are deter-mined to be eligible for an Academic Competitiveness Grant will be notified during the school year and will receive an earnings reduction at that time.

Another source of government funds that can be used at Princeton is a state scholarship or grant. Residents of the following states may qualify for an award: Alaska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Students should apply for state aid by completing the FAFSA and, in some cases, a separate state application. Applicants should contact either their high school guidance office or the state grant agency for more information.

Campus employmentMost students will be offered a term-

time job as part of their financial aid award. Princeton has developed an extensive campus employment program to encourage students to work and help pay for some of their college expenses. Part of the funding comes from the Federal Work-Study Program. Students are expected to use their earnings, paid directly to them every two weeks, to meet their book and personal expenses.

During their freshman year, students can meet their job earnings expectation if they work an average of 9 hours a week for 30 weeks.

Campus jobs are available in the library, dining halls, computing center, and various other departments. Freshmen are usually assigned jobs in the library or dining halls. Princeton encourages students to work in community service areas such as social services, transportation, public safety, crime prevention, recreation, youth service, and other activities specified in the Community Service Act under the Federal Work-Study Program. More information about these job opportunities is available from the Princeton Student Employment Office, P.O. Box 591, Princeton, NJ 08542, or on the Web at www.princeton.edu/se.

Princeton grantsThe University assigns grant funds

from a variety of sources: endowment, general revenues, yearly gifts from alumni and friends, and federal programs.

Princeton grants are awarded on the

basis of financial need. Some require recipients to meet other restrictions. Since the Financial Aid Office is responsible for matching students with specific Princeton funds, it is not necessary to file a separate application for University grants.

Graduates of New Jersey public high schools who are eligible for need-based grant aid from Princeton receive their awards from the Cane Fund. Cane recipients are not required to work (including both term-time and summer employment) and therefore receive a larger portion of grant aid in their award.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOGs) are government funds administered by Princeton and are assigned to students along with University grant funds. Preference in awarding SEOGs is given to students with the lowest expected family contributions.

Federal student aid programsMany students receive a portion of

their financial aid from federal funds: Work-Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or Pell Grant. In addition, Perkins and Stafford loans are available on request.

Aside from filing a FAFSA and demonstrating financial need, a recipient of federal aid must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, maintain satisfactory progress toward a degree, and be registered (if required) with the Selective Service.

Further information about eligibility requirements for federal student aid is available at www.studentaid.ed.gov/funding.

LoansInitial financial aid awards do not

include a student loan under our “no-loan” policy, which replaces the loan component with additional grant funds. However, loans from both federal and University sources are available to students on request.

Detailed descriptions of these loan programs are available from the aid office and on our website at www.princeton.edu/aid.

The usual order of assigning assistance is:

1. external scholarships that are awarded to the student (such as National Merit or local community scholarships);

2. a campus job; and3. Princeton grant funds.

External scholarships and grants

An important part of Princeton’s aid program is the expectation that students will receive scholarships from non-University sources. These scholarships, when combined with Princeton’s own funds, enable the University to meet the full need of all undergraduates. Applicants who win an outside award are required to notify the Financial Aid Office.

As an encouragement to apply for external scholarships, outside aid reduces or eliminates the term and summer job expectations. The Princeton grant is reduced only after these student work requirements have been eliminated. If the Princeton grant is reduced as the result of an outside scholarship adjustment, the lost funds may be recovered and used toward the one-time purchase of a personal computer. This policy of earnings reduction includes employer tuition benefits, but does not apply to the government grants described below.

Federal Pell Grants are funded by the government. Aid applicants apply for a Pell Grant (an award that currently ranges from $555 to $5,550) by filing the FAFSA.

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General Financial Aid Policy

Princeton provides aid to students who make satisfactory progress toward a degree and

continue to demonstrate financial need. (The academic regulations section of Princeton’s Undergraduate Announcement contains a definition of satisfactory progress.) Students who are required to withdraw for disciplinary reasons will not be eligible for Princeton grant funds in a repeated semester. Campus employment and student loans are the only sources of aid available under those circumstances.

The amount and type of aid students receive is reviewed annually. However, adjustments may be made during the year if there are important changes in family resources or student budgets. The most common reasons for award revisions are differences in the information parents provide on the Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) compared with the income shown on their federal income tax return and W-2 forms, family financial problems such as loss of income or emergency expenses, and a shortfall in student summer savings.

Adjustments may be made in a student’s budget for costs that are not adequately covered by the book and personal expense allowance, such as unusual medical expenses. Aid increases to cover higher budgets are usually made with additional job funds, or a loan at the student’s request.

Each year students must reapply for financial aid by submitting a current PFAA and FAFSA, and their parents’ most recent federal income tax return, including W-2 statements. Princeton will not consider an aid application for grant funds after the last day of the academic year for which aid is requested. While the award received for freshman year provides an indication of the level of assistance a student can expect to receive in following years, aid may go up or down in indi-vidual cases depending on changes in a family’s financial circumstances. The most common reasons for significant differences in grant amounts from one year to the

next are large increases or decreases in family income, and changes in a sibling’s college enrollment status.

Typically, the parental contribution increases as family income rises from one year to the next. If the increase in parental contribution does not keep up with higher University charges, campus earnings and grant assistance are used to meet the additional need.

Finally, students can be assured that once they are enrolled, if they demonstrate need in subsequent years, Princeton will continue to provide financial aid.

Students who have questions or who would like additional information about financial aid at Princeton should write to the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid, Princeton University, Box 591, Princeton, NJ 08542-0591, or call (609) 258-3330.

Confidentiality PolicySince families divulge sensitive

financial information to Princeton in the aid application process, we use all available measures to hold this data in strict confidence. Electronic material is protected with current technological safeguards to prevent unauthorized access. Paper records are similarly held in safe storage, and disposed of when necessary in a proper manner such as shredding. There are strict limitations on sharing information with parties other than students and their immediate family members. Organizations outside the University must obtain permission from the student and provide a signed release before receiving aid records. Princeton’s confidentiality policy assures families that their financial aid information will be used only for its intended purpose.

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Undergraduate Financial Aid Office 220 West College Box 591Princeton, NJ 08542-0591 Tel (609) 258-3330 Fax (609) 258-0336 E-mail faoffice@princeton.edu

Nondiscrimination StatementIn compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal, state, and local laws, Princeton University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran status in any phase of its employment process, in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. The vice provost for institutional equity and diversity is the individual designated by the University to coordinate its efforts to comply with Title IX, Section 504 and other equal opportunity and affirmative action regulations and laws. Questions or concerns regarding Title IX, Section 504 or other aspects of Princeton’s equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Princeton University, 205 Nassau Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544 or (609) 258-6110.

Publication coordinated by the Office of Communications Photographs: Denise Applewhite, Mahlon Lovett, Brian Wilson

Copyright © 2010 by The Trustees of Princeton University

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